Shoe shank stiffener



July 11, 1933. R. B. BARTELS r-:r Al.

SHOE SHANK STIFFENER Filed March 27, 1931 /W aim.

Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REINHARD B. BARTELS, or MARBLEHEAD, AND or'ro H. L. THELEN, or' LYNN, MassAcHtrsE'rtrs SHOE SHANK STIFFENER Application led March 27, 1931. SerialNo. 525,712.

This invention relates to shoe shank stiffeners particularly applicable to shoes having extremely high heels and narrow Shanks. Shoes of this type commonly have little or no upper materials at the central portion of the shank so that the relatively narrow sole and the shank stifl'ener at this portion of the shoe are called upon to resist the entire stresses of service at the shank. These stresses are particularly severe due to the extreme height of the heel, the heel acting as a long lever to bend the shank of the shoe when the weight of the wearer, which tends to spread the top lift of the heel backwardly is imposed thereon. These stresses are most severe at about the breast line of the heel.

The stiffener of the present invention therefore is preferably constructed continuously tapering forwardly from a point a little forwardly of the breast line to come within the stitch line of a McKay shoe, which is a type of shoe often made in this extreme style, and yet be of maximum width throughout substantially the length of the shank, the portion forwardly of the heel seat comprising a rib or corrugation to add to its strength. The laterally convex side of the rib is downwardly faced to give the desired rounded contour to the outersole but at the breast line of the 80 shoe the stilfener is provided with marginal flat flanges. These prevent the edges of the corrugation or rib from cutting into the innersole under the pressure of the heeling operation and the weight of the wearer.

These marginal flat flanges also act as fillers on either side of the rib just forwardly of thev heel breast where the shoe widens sharply. The flanges are cutoff sharply to insure a ainst riding up on the inturned portions o? the upper where these are lasted over. Shoes of this type are often made on wood lasts which afford no means of clinching a fastening element at the forward end of the shank stiffener. Means by which the fastening may be done entirely at the heel end and yet cause the forward end of the stiffener to press firmly against the innersole is therefore provided, but in order that advantage may be taken where the last has a metal clinching insert adjacent to the break line of the sole the stifener may be formed to receive a fastener at its forward end also.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Figures l and 2 are plan and side elevations, respectively, of the stiliener.

Figures 3 and 4 are sect-ions on lines 3-3 Vand 1 -4, respectively, of Figure 2.

F igure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan of alasted shoe before the application of the outersole and showing the stiffener in position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentar a completed McKay shoe sul; line 6 6 of Figure 5.

l Figures 7 and 8 are side elevations partly broken away and in section of a shoe showing different methods of securing the shank stiffener in position.

Figure 9 is a detail section on line 9-9 of Figure 5.

As shown in the drawing the stifl'ener comprises a strip having a central laterally curved rib or corrugation 1 extending for the major portion of its length. At its forward end it is substantially flat laterally, and is turned upward slightly as at 2 and as shown 1n Figures l and 2 it is preferably provided with an opening 3 to receive a fastening element such as a tack, which, however, as will later appear is not always used. At each side of the ribl 1 at its rear end is positioned a substantially flat flange portion 4 which merges with a substantially flat or preferably slightly upwardly concaved rear portion 5 extending rearwardly of the rib. As shown the end of this portion 5 is provided with a slight concavity as at 6 which mates the conveXity 7 of the forward end, the stiffeners being 'cut from a single strip of material'in end to end relationship. The forward end of the stiffener is cut convex in order that it may present no sharp angles whichmight tend te cut into the adjacent portion of the shoe. At the rear end the end configuration is of no particular consequence so that it may be left concave as results from the cutting oflI ofthe strip for successive stiHeners with the convex formation for the forward end. The

section through stantially on the 45 neath the lasted in portions of the upper at its forward portion and rovide lengthwise portion of the stifener provided up firmly a ainst the innersole so that it is with the flanges 4, which is within the rear securely hel in position without the neceshalf of its length, is substantially wider than sity of passing a tack through the hole 3. the portion forwardly of the fianges, the This' is illustrated in Figure 8 wherein the s flanges terminating at their forward ends two tacks v20 and 21 are shown as driven l0 quite abruptly. Forwardly thereof the full through the holes 17 and 18 of the stifener width ofthe stifener is formed by the rib and into the innersole.' or corrugation 1. This stiffener is shown as In Figure 5 the shoe is shown as lasted symmetrical about a longitudinal axis so that and this lasting may be done'by such well the same stifener is applicable to either a known processes as the McKay or cement 75 left or a right shoe and both its wider `and processes. When done according to the Mcnarrower portions forwardly of the rear end Kay process there would of course be lastof the stifening rib taper forwardly. ing tacks positioned to hold the u perma- The flange portions 4 terminate somewhat terials in lasted condition before t e outerforwardly of the breast line of the heel of thc sole is applied. With the cement process no 30 y shoe to which the stifener is designed to be such lasting tacks would be used.

applied, this being substantially on the sec- In the construction illustrated the stifener tion line 6-6 of Figure 5. These fiat flanges is of maximum strength at about the heel ortions take -the pressure from the heel nailbreast line of the shoe where the maximum ing mechanism and also from the weight of stresses are exerted thereon, the Astiffenerat 35 -the wearer during service, distributing it over this point being provided with the central a substantial area of the sole so as not to cut st iffening rib portion of the greatest width into the sole as might be the case were the and having the lateral flanges which prevent edges of the rib portion brought directly into the stiffener from cutting into the sole macontact with the sole at this portion of the terial. Hence the maximum amount of 90 shoe. The forward ends of these flanges strength and stiffness for a given weight of which project forwardly of the breast line act material is found at this point. Forwardly as fillers on opposite sides ofthe rib where of the heel breast line and throughout the the shoe widens substantially from its narnarrower portion of the shank the stiffener an row ortion. At the narrowest portion the rib is of sufiiciently narrow dimensions to pass 95 of t e stiffener may project over the lastedbetween the lines of McKay stitching and in u per materials but it must be narrow, yet is reinforced by itsrib construction for particularly where the shoe is of the McKay maximum strength consistent with the nari type in order to provide room for the McKay row construction.

sa stitching, the position of which is substan- From the foregoing' description of an em- 100 tially as shown by the dotted lines a in Figbodiment of this invention, it should be eviure 5 and in full lines in Figure 9. As shown dent to Vthose skilled in the art that various in Figure 9 the edges of the rib ap roach changes and Vmodifications might be made closely to the McKay stitches and t e rib without departing from the spirit or scope o being downwardly convexed it forms the of this invention as defined by the appended 105 outersole 10 of the shoe to the desired downclaims. wardly convexed curvature at the shoe We claim: f shank. Figure 6 shows also the manner in 1. A shoe shank stiffener having aportion which the fiange portions 4 extend out bewithin its rear half substantiall wider than throughout 110 the heel seat, serving as a filler. g the major portion of its ength with a stiffen- Where-the shoes are made on lasts which ing rib, sald wider portion only havin flat have a metal insert forwardly of the break marginal flanges on either side of said ri.

. line, the stifener may be fixed at itsforward 2. A shoe shank stiener having a portion end by driving a tack 15 at its forward end within its rear half substantiall wider than 115 and at its rear end by driving a tack 16 its forward portion and provi ed throu hthrough one of a pair of holes 17 and 18 at out the major portion of its length wit a the rear portion of the stifener. In many stiffening rib, said wider portion only havcases, however, shoes of this extreme type are ing fiat. marginal flanges on either side of said -made on lasts unprovided with metal inserts rib, the portion forwardly of said wider por- 12 adjacent to the break line of the sole against tion tapering in width forwardly.- which fasteners may be clinched. and in such 3. A shoe shank stiffener symmetrical with cases some other means of securing the stiffrespect to a longitudinal axis and having a ener must be provided. The rear end orportion within its rear half substantially tion of the stiffener 5 is shown as sliglitly wider than its forward portion, and ro- .12 upwardly concave and with such construcvided throughout the ma or portion o its tion, when fastening tacks are driven through length with a stifening ri said wider porboth the holes 17 and 18, the stiener is fiattion onl havin flat marginal flanges on tened somewhat at its concaved portion and either si e of sai rib.

$5 the forward end of the stiffener is sprung 4. Apshoe shank stifener symmetrical with 13 respect to a longitudinal axis and having a portion within its rear half substantially wider than its forward portion, and provided throughout the major portion of its length with a stiening rib, said wider portion only having flat marginal anges on either-side of said rib, the portion forwardly of said wider portion tapering in width for-- Wardly.

5. In a shoe, a shank stifener having a substantially widened portion terminating at points slightly in advance of the heel breast line, said portion including a central rib and side flanges extending laterally from said rib, said rib only extending forwardly from said widened portion and constituting the forward portion of said stilener.

6. In a shoe, a shank stiener having a substantially widened portion terminating at points slightly in advance of the heel breast line, said portion including a central rib and side flanges extending laterally from said rib, said rib only extending forwardly from said widened portion and constituting the forward portion of said stiener and tapering in width forwardly.

7. In a shoe, a shank stiEener symmetrical about a longitudinal axis and having a substantially widened portiony terminating at points slightly in advance of the heel breast line, said portion including a central rib and side flanges extending laterally from said rib, said rib only extending forwardly from said widened portion and constituting the forsignatures.

REINHARD B. BARTELS. OTTO H. L. THELEN. 

